Job losses as News Ltd closes Quest news

About 30 staff from the Weekender Magazine and the Noosa, Maroochy and Caloundra Journals were informed this morning.

Next week's editions will be their last.

News Limited says they're no longer commercially viable.

Some staff will be redeployed - but there will be redundancies.

News Limited's managing director of newspapers and digital products Jerry Harris released the following statement.

"It is with regret that we are closing these titles, but with continuing slow trading conditions on the Sunshine Coast the reality is that they are no longer commercially viable.

"We have begun consultations with affected staff and intend to redeploy as many as we can into News' other operations in South East Queensland, but inevitably there will be a number of redundancies.

"News will continue to have a strong presence in the region as the Courier-Mail will strengthen its bureau to improve local coverage, and maintain its involvement with keynote Sunshine Coast sporting and cultural events."

The Noosa Journal was an award winning newspaper, that paved the way for Quest Newspapers to launch the Maroochy and Caloundra versions in 2010.